A fire has been burning for eight days at a waste mountain on the outskirts of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, spreading across more than 15 hectares and blanketing the area in thick, toxic smoke. Hundreds of local residents have been displaced by the blaze at the Jatiwaringin landfill.
Health authorities have reported a surge in respiratory illnesses attributed to the air pollution. Firefighters are using helicopters, water tankers, bulldozers, and drones in an effort to extinguish the fire, with hopes of achieving this by the end of the week.
Environmental activists describe the landfill fire as an "ecological disaster resulting from systemic negligence," pointing to it as a symptom of Indonesia's growing waste crisis.
The fire reportedly began on June 30, initially sparked by a small ignition that was fanned by strong winds. The flames spread to various sections of the landfill, including areas with high piles of waste and those that have been difficult for emergency services to access.
Thick black clouds of smoke have inundated surrounding residential areas for the past week. Air quality measurements from the Ministry of Environment indicated hazardous levels around the landfill, although conditions have reportedly eased in recent days.
Local residents have been forced to flee their homes due to the toxic smoke. One resident, Sarmanah, 45, recounted how the smoke filled her house, causing stinging eyes, coughing, runny noses, and difficulty breathing, compelling her family to leave. "The smoke was so thick you couldn't see anyone," she told the BBC. "It stings the nose, makes you cough and have a runny nose, and makes you unable to breathe... We were forced to leave the house because we couldn't take it anymore."
Hundreds of others have sought refuge in shelters established by the local government. Another resident, Tosiyani, 37, was prevented from returning home due to the toxic nature of the smoke.